ON TUESDAY, I received a call from the management of the Australian cricket team, offering an invitation from Michael Clarke, Mickey Arthur and the team, to join them in a mentoring role for the Boxing Day Test.

Straightaway, I felt numb and yet so excited. What an offer! To sit and work among our Test cricketers, to observe and help them prepare for the biggest match of the year. I literally felt like I was picked to play again for Australia.

This program has been instigated by Clarke and Arthur, and the Australian team has already invited Allan Border, Adam Gilchrist, Greg Blewett and David Boon to join the team throughout the summer.

This Test is not like any other; it is the biggest Test of the year because it is played on the mighty MCG. The Boxing Day match will always test any cricketer - mentally, technically or otherwise. It has one of the biggest ratings on TV for the year, alongside being the best-attended Test in the world.

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The Boxing Day Test has become a major event in world sport. Everyone wants to be there and watch traditional cricket at its finest. It has become a ''bucket list'' event for any sports fan. Just a few years ago, West Indian great Brian Lara paid his own way to just sit in the crowd and enjoy the atmosphere that no other ground can offer.

I am the batting coach for the South Australian Redbacks, and what a great learning experience it will be for me to observe how Arthur prepares and marshals his troops for the big match. Just to see the difference in how this team prepares compared with how we did it in my time.

Playing at the MCG has always been a honour, but to be with this team will be a massive privilege. I am looking forward to seeing how certain individuals prepare themselves. I want to observe how Michael Hussey goes about his work. I cannot wait to see how our bowlers gear up for a Test. What a great opportunity to see how they bowl to our batsmen in the nets.

One of the big advantages playing at the MCG is that the practice pitches play similar to how the pitch plays in the middle. The practice pitches are Test-class. The pace and bounce are so good that I always felt so ready to play.

I am looking forward to working with Clarke. We often keep in touch, discussing cricket, but it will be great to see first-hand, how he leads this team.

This experience is also a two-way street. I have been so lucky to have played so much cricket on this famous ground that I believe I can offer some good advice. If we bat first, there is a trick to how to bat early on this couch-grassed pitch. Simply, do not go hard at balls that are pitched up. I have seen it so many times, batsmen getting themselves dismissed driving early. Basically, at this time of the match, the pitch is still ''softish'', so beware.

What happens, is when the ball is pitched up, it really gets into the pitch and stands up with steep bounce, making it difficult to drive. I will go as far to say the only time you drive in the morning is in the bus from the hotel to the ground. Sure, smash the short-pitched deliveries, but do not drive before lunch.

I was lucky to have played in many Boxing Day Tests. Sadly, the emotion of playing on my home ground was too much for me. I always tried to play a blinder of an innings. For some reason, I wanted to just play a great knock for my family, friends and fans that they would remember for ever. Sadly, I just went too hard too early and paid the price.

Being a Victorian, and walking out to bat with your name blaring over the sound system and on the scoreboards, with bay 13 going off and chanting your name is all quite surreal. I got so wound up in the moment, I became too tight and nervous. I couldn't breathe, and trust me when I tell you, that is not how you should be feeling when you are about to face Richard Hadlee, Wasim Akram, Malcolm Marshall or Curtly Ambrose.

This match offers so much for the MCC members and fans. It is great to see so many people enjoying the festive season. I love watching fathers and sons sitting together, talking cricket and enjoying each other's company. It is also a great time to see so many cricketers I played with in the past. We don't get a chance to see each other much, as life can be very busy at times.

No doubt there will be 70,000 people watching on day one, and what an experience it will be for the Sri Lankans. They won't play in front of a crowd this huge again. They gave us a hard Test in Hobart and I expect no different here.

Please pull up a chair when Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene come into bat. These guys are superstars and they will provide great entertainment.

I will be watching with interest if Clarke passes his fitness test. If he doesn't come through, I will make myself available to bat at No. 5 because I am due to get some runs. Knowing Pup as I do, he will be fine … and fingers crossed we will have a Test match to remember.

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